Frugal Dates (Pt. 3) - Cecil County Frugal Dates

This part of the Frugal Dates series is a list of ideas for frugal dates in our area. These ideas won’t include references to where to walk and get coffee which is in this article.

One of the followers on here, Committed Recycler, suggested making a list of fun, frugal things to do. That way, if there are no events in the community, couples can choose from the list of ideas for a date. I thought that was a wonderful idea and will work on that this weekend. Check the Cecil Whig calendar section for frugal events. This is a great resource for knowing what there is to do in the local area. The online calendar is different than the print version. I find the print version has many more things listed on it.

Here is a list of ideas of where to go and what to do for frugal dates in the Cecil County area.

University of Delaware has great entertainment and a few museums. Here is a calendar that is updated daily. Some things are expensive and some even free.

Cecil College also has some budget performances in the Millburn Stone Theatre. There are other things, such as sports events, on campus.

Washington College also has some lectures, films and other events. Many are not for the general public so make sure before you go that you can attend.

Sports events are very cheap if you go to local high school or college events. My husband usually goes to a UD football game every year with one of my daughters. He also has taken her to UD women’s basketball games. They were cheap “dates” and they even gave the kids posters of the team.

Restaurant.com is a way to purchase restaurant gift certificates for less money. A $25 certificate usually sells for $10. There are several restaurants in and around the county that offer certificates. Sometimes they have an 80% or 90% sale on certificates. I bought some for my daughters last year for Christmas and they enjoyed some nice lunches out without having to pay anything.

On the first Sunday of the month the Philadelphia Museum of Art has pay what you wish all day. I usually drop in a $5 bill and spend a few hours there. The Rodin Museum has a suggested contribution of $5 per person. Becoming a member of any of the Philadelphia museums is usually more cost effective than paying on a per visit basis.

The Delaware Art Museum also offers free admission on Sundays.

I think the one thing to take away from here is if you would like to see a museum or an historical sight, always check the web first to see if there is a day when admission is free.

Since we are heading into the cold weather, I am thinking of indoor things to do. Summer, when the weather is nice, one can swim cheaply at Elk Neck State Park or hike for $3 at Fair Hill Natural Resources Area. A one year park pass that is good at all the State Parks is only $75. You can usually buy and use it several months before the new year starts.

It is $10 a night for spectators at the Cecil County Dragway. On Sunday, it is $12 a day. Check the website for more information.

One of my favorite things to do is to wander around the streets of all our little tourist towns. I window shop, look in the stores, maybe buy a little something, and then have an ice cream or a cup of coffee. This is fun and also helps to support some of our local businesses. This can back fire if you find some expensive item that cries out to you “Buy me! Even if you don’t need me, you WANT me!” Just ignore that little voice and all will be frugal.